Peggy Fikac: Election Delayed?

Gov. Rick Perry said today he doesn’t plan to call an emergency election to replace U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay when the former House majority leader resigns.

That means voters in Congressional District 22 won’t get a chance to choose a replacement until the November general election — unless DeLay unexpectedly resigns by the end of this week.

DeLay would have to resign by week’s end for a special election to be on the next uniform election date of May 13.

He has said he expects to leave office by mid-June.

Even if Perry were to call an emergency election, the winner would only serve out the remaining months of DeLay’s current term after he resigns.

GOP leaders will choose a nominee to replace DeLay on the November ballot for a new term.

Under Perry’s plan, the November vote would determine both who serves out the remaining months of DeLay’s current term, as well as the next term. The scenario could possibly leave DeLay’s seat vacant for a time.

“Until I get a letter that says, ‘Dear Governor, I resign, Tom Delay,’ there’s not an opening,” Perry said. “If I don’ t get it by close of business tomorrow, the election will be in November.”

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said that Perry later explained, “Unless someone can demonstrate why we should go to the expense of a special election, and that there is some pressing issue before Congress, or that Congress is even in session, he doesn’t see going to that expense” of having an emergency election.